Personal care article with vibrating head part

Abstract

An interdental treatment device, such as a toothbrush, includes a handle configured to accommodate an electric power source, a head carrying an interdental treatment tool, and a neck between the handle and the head. The head or neck includes a mechanical motorized vibratory device, including a drive which causes the head to vibrate. Electrical connections are operably connected to the mechanical vibratory device and the electric power source to power the mechanical vibratory device via the electrical connections. In various embodiments, a switch may be operably connected to at least one of the electrical connections to interrupt power from the power source to the mechanical motorized vibratory device. In various embodiments, a vibration-damping structure dampens vibration transmission from the head to the handle.

1. A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle molded from at least one plastic material and configured to accommodate an electric power source; 
 a head, the head including bristles; 
 a neck located between the handle and the head; and 
 a mechanical motorized vibratory device in at least one of the head and the neck comprising an eccentric body that rotates about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation being located in a longitudinal direction of the toothbrush; 
 wherein the toothbrush includes a notch that is filled with an elastically compliant material and that extends over part of a circumference of the toothbrush, and 
 wherein the handle includes a sheath or sleeve accommodated in the handle and the sheath or sleeve extends in a longitudinal direction of the handle defining a cavity for the electric power source. 
 
     
     
       2. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical motorized vibratory device is located adjacent to the notch. 
     
     
       3. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the notch is located in the neck of the toothbrush. 
     
     
       4. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elastically compliant material is a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
       5. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical motorized vibratory device has a diameter of less than 15 mm and a length of less than 20 mm. 
     
     
       6. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a switch that comprises a pulse switch and further electronic components that store a switching state. 
     
     
       7. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sheath or sleeve includes a spring contact for a battery, the spring contact is fitted in the sheath or sleeve on a transverse wall and is connected to the vibratory device via an electric line and a switch, wherein the switch is installed in the sheath or sleeve and can be actuated from the outside of the handle. 
     
     
       8. A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle molded from at least one plastic material and configured to accommodate an electric power source; 
 a head, the head including bristles; 
 a neck located between the handle and the head; 
 a mechanical motorized vibratory device in at least one of the head and the neck comprising an eccentric body that rotates to cause the head to vibrate; 
 a switch for interrupting power from the power source to the mechanical motorized vibratory device, and comprising a pulse switch and further electronic components storing a switching state; 
 wherein the toothbrush includes an elastically compliant material dampening the vibration. 
 
     
     
       9. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical motorized vibratory device is located adjacent to the elastically compliant material. 
     
     
       10. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical motorized vibratory device is located adjacent to a notch filled with the elastically compliant material. 
     
     
       11. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the elastically compliant material is a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
       12. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical motorized vibratory device has a diameter of less than 15 mm and a length of less than 20 mm. 
     
     
       13. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the handle includes a sheath or sleeve accommodated in the handle and the sheath or sleeve extends in a longitudinal direction of the handle defining a cavity for the electric power source. 
     
     
       14. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the sheath or sleeve includes a spring contact for a battery, the spring contact is fitted in the sheath or sleeve on a transverse wall and is connected to the vibratory device via an electric line and a switch, wherein the switch is installed in the sheath or sleeve and can be actuated from the outside of the handle. 
     
     
       15. A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle molded from at least one plastic material and configured to accommodate an electric power source; 
 a head, the head including bristles; 
 a neck located between the handle and the head; 
 a mechanical motorized vibratory device in at least one of the head and the neck comprising an eccentric body that rotates about an axis of rotation; 
 a sheath or sleeve accommodated in the handle and the sheath or sleeve extends in a longitudinal direction of the handle defining a cavity for the electric power source. 
 
     
     
       16. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the mechanical motorized vibratory device has a diameter of less than 15 mm and a length of less than 20 mm. 
     
     
       17. The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the sheath or sleeve includes a spring contact for a battery, the spring contact is fitted in the sleeve on a transverse wall and is connected to the vibratory device via an electric line and a switch, wherein the switch is installed in the sheath or sleeve and can be actuated from the outside of the handle. 
     
     
       18. A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle molded from at least one plastic material and configured to accommodate an electric power source; 
 a head, the head including bristles; 
 a neck located between the handle and the head; 
 a mechanical motorized vibratory device in at least one of the head and the neck comprising an eccentric body that rotates about an axis of rotation; 
 a sheath or sleeve accommodated in the handle and the sheath or sleeve extends in a longitudinal direction of the handle defining a cavity for the electric power source; and 
 a spring contact for a battery is fitted in the sheath or sleeve on a transverse wall and is connected to the vibratory device via an electric line, and a switch, 
 wherein the switch is installed in the sheath or sleeve and can be actuated from the outside of the handle; and 
 the switch is configured to interrupt an electrical connection between the battery and the mechanical motorized vibratory device. 
 
     
     
       19. A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle molded from at least one plastic material and configured to accommodate an electric power source; 
 a head, the head including bristles; 
 a neck located between the handle and the head; 
 a mechanical motorized vibratory device in at least one of the head and the neck comprising an eccentric body that rotates about an axis of rotation; and 
 a switch that comprises a pulse switch and further electronic components that store a switching state, 
 wherein the toothbrush includes a notch that is filled with an elastically compliant material and that extends over part of a circumference of the toothbrush. 
 
     
     
       20. A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle molded from at least one plastic material and configured to accommodate an electric power source; 
 a head, the head including bristles; 
 a neck located between the handle and the head; 
 a mechanical motorized vibratory device in at least one of the head and the neck comprising an eccentric body that rotates about an axis of rotation; 
 a sheath or sleeve accommodated in the handle and the sheath or sleeve extends in a longitudinal direction of the handle defining a cavity for the electric power source; and 
 a switch that comprises a pulse switch and further electronic components that store a switching state. 
 
     
     
       21. A personal care device comprising:
 a handle molded from at least one plastic material and configured to accommodate an electric power source; 
 a head, the head including bristles; 
 a neck located between the handle and the head; 
 a mechanical motorized vibratory device in at least one of the head and the neck comprising an eccentric body that rotates about an axis of rotation; and 
 a switch that comprises a pulse switch and further electronic components that store a switching state, 
 wherein the personal care device includes a notch that is filled with an elastically compliant material and that extends over part of a circumference of the personal care device. 
 
     
     
       22. A personal care device comprising:
 a handle molded from at least one plastic material and configured to accommodate an electric power source; 
 a head, the head including bristles; 
 a neck located between the handle and the head; 
 a mechanical motorized vibratory device in at least one of the head and the neck comprising an eccentric body that rotates to cause the head to vibrate; 
 a switch for interrupting power from the power source to the mechanical motorized vibratory device, and comprising a pulse switch and further electronic components storing a switching state; 
 wherein the personal care device includes an elastically compliant material dampening the vibration. 
 
     
     
       23. A personal care device comprising:
 a handle molded from at least one plastic material and configured to accommodate an electric power source; 
 a head, the head including bristles; 
 a neck located between the handle and the head; 
 a mechanical motorized vibratory device in at least one of the head and the neck comprising an eccentric body that rotates about an axis of rotation; 
 a sheath or sleeve accommodated in the handle and the sheath or sleeve extends in a longitudinal direction of the handle defining a cavity for the electric power source.